Toilet-lid fitting

ABSTRACT

A lid fitting ( 5 ) for a toilet bowl ( 1 ) can be inserted into through-holes ( 2 ) in the rear periphery, each with a blocking element ( 3 ). Each of said blocking elements contains an insert element ( 4 ) of the lid fitting ( 5 ), in which case they are movable with vertical play in the insert element ( 4 ) and fit into the through-holes ( 2 ) with play. The blocking elements ( 3 ) each have two spherical notches ( 6   b, c ), in which a spherical lower end ( 7 ) of the insert element ( 4 ) can be accommodated in each case. The blocking elements ( 3 ) bear, at their upper boundary, a peripheral bead ( 6 ) with a protective cap ( 6   a ) made of metal or plastics material. The lid fitting ( 5 ) has two positions, that is to say an insertion position, in which the spherical lower end ( 7 ) can latch in the spherical notch ( 6   b ) of the first blocking element ( 3 ), and a second spherical notch ( 6   c ) in the vicinity of the end, it being possible for this notch to retain the blocking element ( 3 ) in the locking position. By virtue of the rear periphery of the lid fitting ( 5 ) being subjected to pressure, the lid fitting can be moved from the insertion position into the locking position and, by virtue of the lid fitting ( 5 ) being subjected to vertical pulling, the lid fitting can be released from the locking position and the lid fitting ( 5 ) can be raised up from the toilet bowl ( 1 ) and can undergo cleaning.

This application is a US national stage application filed under 35 U.S.C. §371 based upon International Patent Application PCT/CH2012/000155, filed 5 Jul. 2012, which claims the benefit of Switzerland application 1119/11, filed 5 Jul. 2011, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein for all purposes.

The present invention relates to a toilet lid set and its connection with the toilet bowl, hereinafter abbreviated to toilet set. Many such toilet lids and sets are known. All related inventions share in common that the two holes or openings exhibited at the rear periphery of at least those toilet bowls used in Europe and the US have secured in them by way of continuous screws a base element, to which is then secured a hinged joint, or generally a swiveling element, which then directly or indirectly carries the so-called toilet seat and/or one or two toilet lids, i.e., a toilet set. The problem arising here does not involve the mechanical and structural requirements to be met, but rather has to do with cleaning, above all the zone where the toilet bowl and toilet set impact each other in the hinged region. This problem is encountered to an accentuated extent where the general public uses the toilet, as in restaurants, hospitals, and of course especially in public toilet facilities. This is why toilet facilities that embody particularly these hygiene problems were published.

Such devices are known from DE 10 2009 043 851 A1 (D1), DE 10 2008 058 580 A1 (D2), US 2008/0271230 A1 (D3), EP 1 800 585 A2 (D4), and DE 20 2008 007 658 U1 (D5).

All of the devices disclosed in the mentioned publications share in common that the toilet lid(s) can be removed with a few hand movements to clean the bowl and/or the lid. D1 provides a separate cleaning system that can make such a system attractive to hospitals or public toilets, but the size of the system and presumably its price would sooner rule it out for private households. Devices in D2-D5 still have the disadvantage that one or two elements remain connected with the bowl, being tightly bolted thereto, after the lid set has been removed, leaving narrow gaps or corners that are inefficient or difficult to clean, and dubious from a hygienic standpoint.

The object of the present invention is to provide a device that eliminates this circumstance.

The set objective is achieved as described in context with the invention herein below in terms of its basic elements, and with regard to other advantageous embodiments.

The rear horizontal fastening ledge of the toilet bowl has two through holes to hold fastening elements. The through holes are most often relatively large in size, so as to accommodate toilet sets from various manufacturers with different standards. A respective first blocking element is inserted into these through holes, each positively encompassing an insert element of a lid set, but with play. The insert elements are dimensioned in such a way as to fit into the through holes with play, and their upper boundary exhibits an edge bead, which serves as a stop while inserting the insert elements, so that the insertion process is clearly divided into two phases: In a first phase, the insert elements with blocking elements attached can be introduced into the through holes until the edge beads hit the toilet bowl, while in a second phase, pressure can be exerted on the rear edge of the lid set, wherein this pressure forces an essentially spherical end of each end of the insert elements through the two blocking elements. The blocking elements are made out of an elastomer, which can be compressed to a suitable extent, and bear a protective cap made out of plastic or metal where the lid set rests.

The inventive idea will be explained in more detail based on the drawings. Shown on:

FIG. 1 a is a first embodiment in the inserted, but not locked state,

FIG. 1 b is the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 a in the locked state,

FIG. 2 a is a second exemplary embodiment in the inserted, but not locked state,

FIG. 2 b is the second exemplary embodiment in the locked state,

FIG. 3 a is a third exemplary embodiment in the inserted state,

FIG. 3 b is the third exemplary embodiment in the locked state,

FIG. 4 is a fourth exemplary embodiment of a detail.

FIG. 1 a shows a first exemplary embodiment of a toilet set according to the invention, specifically in a position in which it is inserted in a toilet bowl 1, but not yet locked. Only the rear, horizontal fastening bracket of the ceramic toilet bowl 1 is depicted. It has two through holes 2 to accommodate fastening elements, up until now most often screws. The through holes 2 are mostly relatively large in size, so as to accommodate that toilet sets from various manufacturers with different standards. A respective first blocking element 3 is inserted into these through holes 2, each positively encompassing an insert element of a lid set 5. The insert elements 4 are dimensioned in such a way as to fit into the through holes 2 with play, and their upper boundary exhibits an edge bead 6, which serves as a stop while inserting the insert elements 4, so that the insertion process is clearly divided into two phases: In a first phase, the insert elements 4 with blocking elements 3 attached can be introduced into the through holes 2 until the edge beads 6 hit the toilet bowl, while in a second phase, pressure can be exerted on the rear edge of the lid set 5, wherein this pressure forces an essentially spherical end 7 of each end of the insert element 4 through the two blocking elements 3. The blocking elements 3 are made out of an elastomer, which can be compressed to a suitable extent, and bear a protective cap 6 a made out of plastic or metal where the lid set 5 rests according to FIG. 1 b. The ensemble comprised of elements 3, 4, 5, 6, 6 a, 7 is preferably delivered to the user completely assembled. Otherwise, the user must inversely punch the insert elements 4 through the blocking elements 3, and then bolt them down in the lid set 5.

FIG. 1 b shows the end of the second phase, in which the lower ends of the blocking elements 3 are expanded by the essentially spherical ends of the insert elements 4, and thereby block the lid set 5. If the latter are to be separated from the toilet bowl again for cleaning purposes, the insertion phase is reversed by pulling on the lid set 5. No part of the toilet lid according to the invention remains on the toilet bowl, and the (interconnected) parts of the toilet set can be sent to cleaning.

FIG. 2 a shows a second exemplary embodiment of the inventive idea, which embodies the same underlying concept of the first, but varies the means for achieving the object.

A respective second insert element 11 with preassembled second blocking elements is inserted into the through holes 2. These second blocking elements 12 each exhibit a cylindrical through hole, in which the second insert element can move with play. The spherical end 13 of the second insert element is somewhat larger than in the first exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 a, b, and in the insertion position is situated in an upper, spherical notch (6 b) in the second blocking element 12. Behind the toilet bowl 1, the second insert element 11 exhibits a swiveling axis 10 running transverse thereto, with an eccentric element 8 and a lever 9 rigidly connected with the latter. These last elements are located behind the toilet bowl.

FIG. 2 b shows the device according to FIG. 2 a in the locked state. The levers 9 are pivoted against each other, as denoted by the arrows. As a consequence, the levers 9 are collinearly aligned, and can be locked against each other by means of a bushing 9 a situated on the one lever 9. By simultaneously turning the eccentric elements 8, the second insert elements 11 are lifted somewhat, and the spherical ends 13 force apart the lower ends 13 of the blocking elements 12, which downwardly project in notches 6 c via the through holes 2, and thereby lock the entire device.

FIG. 3 a, b shows a third exemplary embodiment of the inventive idea. FIG. 3 a again depicts the device only after inserted, while the second drawing on FIG. 3 b presents the locked device.

While the eccentric elements 8, levers 9, bushing 9 a, swiveling axis 10 from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 a, b are unchanged, a variant involving a third blocking element 14 is here present. The latter consists of an outer bushing 14 a and an inner bushing 14 b, which can be axially bolted together, so that their overall height can be adjusted to the thickness of the rear edge of the toilet bowl 1. This third blocking element 14 can move with play in the through hole 2, and further bears no edge bead 6, with the protective cap 6 a here instead covering an elastomer washer and outer bushing 14 a of the third blocking element. At its lower end, the third variant for an insert element 15 carries a washer 16, which is bolted with a (vertically movable) third insert element 15. The diameter of the washer 16 is dimensioned in such a way as to traverse the through hole 2 and into the toilet bowl 1 with play.

If the lid set 5 is now to be locked with the toilet bowl 1, the levers 9 are inwardly turned and secured with the bushing 9 a, as described in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 a, b. This causes the washer 16 to lift, and a short elastomer tube 17 is deformed in such a way as to lock the third insert element 15.

FIG. 4 shows a variant hereof. It only affects the two bushings 14 a, b of the third blocking element 14. An outer bushing 14 c bears several, for example three, mutually parallel, horizontal slits 18, corresponding to cams 19 on an inner bushing 14 d. As a result, the height of the third blocking element 14 can be adjusted in stages. If not locked, the lid set 5 can as before be separated by simply lifting it from the toilet bowl 1, so that both parts, specifically the toilet bowl 1 and lid set 5 without parts remaining on the toilet bowl 1, are present individually, and can be sent to cleaning.

The feature shared in common by all lid sets 5 described herein is that, after the locking device has been detachably actuated, they can be completely removed from the toilet bowl without parts remaining on the toilet bowl by lifting the lid set 5, so as to then each be separately sent to a cleaning process.

REFERENCE LIST

-   1 Toilet bowl -   2 Through holes -   3 First blocking element -   4 Insert element -   5 Lid set -   6 Edge bead -   6 a Protective cap (metal or plastic) -   6 b, c Spherical notches (in 3) -   7 Spherical end (of 4) -   8 Eccentric element -   9 Lever (on 8) -   9 a Bushing (to lock 9) -   10 Swiveling axis -   11 Second insert element -   12 Second blocking element -   13 Spherical end (of 12) -   14 Third blocking element -   14 a Outer bushing -   14 b Inner bushing -   14 c Outer bushing -   14 d Inner bushing -   15 Third insert element -   16 Washer -   17 Elastomer tube -   18 Horizontal slits -   19 Cam 

1. A lid set for a toilet with a toilet bowl whose rear edge exhibits two through holes, wherein these through holes each have inserted in them a blocking element, which each hold an insert element of the lid set inserted therein, such that they can move in the insert element with a vertical play and fit into the through holes with play, the insert elements can be locked in the through holes, and when they are not locked, the entire lid set can be lifted off the toilet bowl, these through holes each have inserted in them a first blocking element, which each hold an insert element of the lid set inserted therein, such that they can move in the insert element with a vertical play and fit into the through holes with play, the blocking elements each exhibit two spherical notches, each of which can receive a spherical lower end of the insert elements with play, the upper boundary of the blocking elements bears an edge bead with a protective cap of metal or plastic, the lid set has two positions, specifically an insertion position, in which the spherical lower end can latch into the spherical notch of the first blocking element, and a second spherical notch near the end, which holds the blocking element in a locking position, so that pressing on the rear edge of the lid set makes it possible to move it from the insertion position into the locking position, and vertically pulling on the lid set makes it possible to detach it from the locking position, and to lift the lid set from the toilet bowl.
 2. A lid set for a toilet with a toilet bowl whose rear edge exhibits two through holes, wherein these through holes each have inserted in them a blocking element, which each hold an insert element of the lid set inserted therein, such that they can move in the insert element with a vertical play and fit into the through holes with play, the insert elements can be locked in the through holes, and when they are not locked, the entire lid set can be lifted off the toilet bowl, the through holes each have inserted in them a second blocking element, which each hold a second insert element of the lid set inserted therein, such that they can move in the second blocking element with a vertical play and fit into the through holes with play, the second insert elements each bear an eccentric element rigidly connected with a respective lever, wherein the eccentric elements exhibit a horizontal swiveling axis around which they can be swiveled by 90°, the lower ends of the second insert elements each bear a spherical end, which can move in the through holes with play, and project over the second blocking elements in an insertion position, the eccentric elements can be swiveled into a horizontal position by means of the two levers and locked with each other via a bushing, wherein the swiveling movement pulls up the insert elements, and the spherical lower ends of the insert elements lock the blocking elements in the throw holes.
 3. A lid set for a toilet with a toilet bowl whose rear edge exhibits two through holes, wherein these through holes each have inserted in them a blocking element, which each hold an insert element of the lid set inserted therein, such that they can move in the insert element with a vertical play and fit into the through holes with play, the insert elements can be locked in the through holes, and when they are not locked, the entire lid set can be lifted off the toilet bowl, the through holes each have inserted in them a third blocking element, in which a respective third insert element of the lid set can move with play, the third blocking element consists of an outer bushing, an inner bushing that can be axially bolted with the outer bushing, so that their overall height corresponds that of the rear edge of the toilet bowl, the lower end of the insert element has coaxially bolted to it a washer, which passes through the through hole with play, the washer bears a deformable elastomer tube, which is deformed by turning the eccentric element so to lock the insert element in the throw ham.
 4. The lid set for a toilet according to claim 3, wherein the through holes each have inserted in them a third blocking element, in which a respective third insert element of the lid set can move with play, the third blocking element consists of an outer bushing, which bears 2 to 5 mutually parallel, horizontal slits, and an inner bushing, which bears cams that optionally fit into the horizontal slits and can be screwed into the latter, so that the height of the third blocking element can optionally be adjusted and set in stages, the lid set can either be locked on the toilet set or detached from it by turning the eccentric element by means of the levers.
 5. (canceled) 